SOLVED. Kids chapter book about two children who rescue old folks from an abusive nursing home. [s]

[Mika]

A grade school teacher read this book to the class in the late 90s. I think the details in my head are right but it's been ages.
I want to say the book had a kind of Matilda-esque vibe to it.

Two kids are the main characters. I think the main protagonist was a girl and the other kid was the son of someone who worked near a dock, possibly? The girl comes to live at an old folks home where the old folks are being mistreated and neglected for money. They have to eat the same soup constantly, even though it's years old and horrible. The kids dose the old folks with something that improves appetite so that they can finish the nasty soup and fresh soup has to be made. At one point, something (somebody?) is locked up somewhere and they use a piece of wet bread to make a mold of a key. Im sure there's a lot more in there about cleaning up and letting the sunlight in. Maybe a bit about each of the old folks having some kind of special talent that worked together to make the place livable?

[Rainbowheart]

Peppermints in the Parlor

[Mika]

Thats it! Thank you!

[Rainbowheart]

No prob, glad to help out!